Cryphonectria canker on Tibouchina in Colombia

Cryphonectria canker, caused by Cryphonectria cubensis, has limited the dev elopment of new Eucalyptus plantations in tropical and subtropical regions. The pathogen is commonly found on Eucalyptus, but its occurrence on other hosts in the Myrtaceae has also been documented. In this study, C. cubensis is reported as the causal agent of a serious canker disease on Tibouchina spp. (Melastomataceae) in Colombia. We used morphological studies, pathogen icity tests on Eucalyptus and Tibouchina, and a phylogenetic study using pa rtial ribosomal DNA sequence data. This is the first record of C. cubensis on a host outside the Myrtaceae.